Agricultural Marketing Service April 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 1 - 21 of 21
Olives Grown in California; Increased Assessment Rate
This rule increases the assessment rate established for the California Olive Committee (committee) for the 2005 and subsequent fiscal years from $12.18 to $15.68 per ton of olives handled. The committee locally administers the marketing order regulating the handling of olives grown in California. Authorization to assess olive handlers enables the committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The current fiscal year began January 1 and ends December 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Avocados Grown in South Florida; Increased Assessment Rate
This rule would increase the assessment rate established for the Avocado Administrative Committee (Committee) for the 2005-06 and subsequent fiscal years from $0.20 to $0.27 per 55-pound bushel container or equivalent of avocados handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of avocados grown in South Florida. Authorization to assess avocado handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal year began April 1 and ends March 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Revision of User Fees for 2005 Crop Cotton Classification Services to Growers
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to raise user fees for cotton producers for 2005 crop cotton classification services under the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act. The 2004 user fee for this classification service was $1.65 per bale. This proposal would raise the fee for the 2005 crop to $1.85 per bale with the program. The proposed fee and the existing reserve are sufficient to cover the costs of providing classification services, including costs for administration and supervision.
United States Standards for Grades of Lemons
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking research and other work associated with revising official grade standards, is soliciting comments on the need for possible revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Lemons. At a 2003 meeting with the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, AMS was asked to review all the fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards for usefulness in serving the industry. As a result, AMS is seeking comments regarding any revision to the lemon grade standards that may be necessary to better serve the industry.
United States Standards for Grades of Globe Artichokes
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking research and other work associated with revising official grade standards, is soliciting comments on the possible revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Globe Artichokes. At a 2003 meeting with the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, AMS was asked to review all the fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards for usefulness in serving the industry. As a result, AMS has identified that the standard may need to be revised to reflect current marketing practices. AMS is seeking comments regarding any revisions that may be necessary to better serve the industry.
Irish Potatoes Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and Malheur County, OR; Relaxation of Handling Regulations
This rule relaxes the minimum size requirement for all U.S. No. 2 grade non-red round potatoes handled under the marketing order for Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes to 1\7/8\ inches minimum diameter. This relaxation in the handling regulations was unanimously recommended by the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Potato Committee (Committee), the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order program in the designated production area. This change is intended to improve the marketing of Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes and increase returns to producers.
Tobacco Inspection, Growers Referendum
This notice announces that a referendum will be conducted by mail during the period May 9-13, 2005, for producers of all kinds of tobacco who sold their tobacco at auction on designated markets in 2004/05. The referendum is being conducted to determine if the designation of all existing tobacco auction markets should be terminated, thus eliminating the requirement for mandatory, federal inspection and grading for the 2005 and succeeding crop years.
Milk for Manufacturing Purposes and Its Production and Processing; Requirements Recommended for Adoption by State Regulatory Agencies
This document proposes to amend the recommended manufacturing milk requirements (Recommended Requirements) by providing provisions for sheep milk, adding follow-up procedures used when plant-commingled milk in storage tanks exceeds the maximum allowable bacterial estimate, and providing a definition for heat-treated cream. The notice to add to the Recommended Requirements was initiated at the request of the Dairy Division of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and developed in cooperation with NASDA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), dairy trade associations, and producer groups. This document also proposes certain other changes to the Recommended Requirements for clarity and consistency.
Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia; Change in Assessment Requirements
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule changing the assessment collection requirements prescribed under the Vidalia onion marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of Vidalia onions grown in Georgia and is administered locally by the Vidalia Onion Committee (Committee). This rule continues in effect the action that allows handlers to mail their assessment payments to the Committee office without incurring late payment penalties as long as the payment is postmarked on or before the due date. Prior to this change, assessment payments received in the Committee office later than 4 p.m. on the Tuesday following the week in which shipments were made were subject to late payment penalties.
Hazelnuts Grown in Oregon and Washington; Establishment of Final Free and Restricted Percentages for the 2004-2005 Marketing Year
The Department of Agriculture is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule establishing final free and restricted percentages for domestic inshell hazelnuts for the 2004-2005 marketing year under the Federal marketing order for hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington. This rule continues in effect the final free and restricted percentages of 6.4921 and 93.5079 percent, respectively. The percentages allocate the quantity of domestically produced hazelnuts which may be marketed in the domestic inshell market (free) and the quantity of domestically produced hazelnuts that must be disposed of in approved outlets (restricted). Volume regulation is intended to stabilize the supply of domestic inshell hazelnuts to meet the limited domestic demand for such hazelnuts with the goal of providing producers with reasonable returns. This rule was recommended unanimously by the Hazelnut Marketing Board (Board), which is the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order.
United States Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking research and other work associated with revising official grade standards, is soliciting comments on the possible revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli. At a 2003 meeting with the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, AMS was asked to review all the fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards for usefulness in serving the industry. As a result, AMS has identified broccoli crowns and florets for possible inclusion into the standards. Additionally, AMS is seeking comments regarding any other revisions of the broccoli grade standards that may be necessary to better serve the industry.
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved information collection used to compile and generate the Federally Inspected Estimated Daily Slaughter Report for the Livestock and Grain Market News Branch.
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved information collection used to compile and generate grain and molasses market news reports.
Nominations for Members of the National Organic Standards Board
The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990, as amended, requires the establishment of a National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB is a 15-member board that is responsible for developing and recommending to the Secretary a proposed National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances. The NOSB also advises the Secretary on other aspects of the National Organic Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting nominations to fill six (6) upcoming vacancies on the NOSB. The positions to be filled are: organic producer (2 positions), consumer/public interest (3 positions), and USDA accredited certifying agent (1 position). The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a person to each position to serve a 5-year term of office that will commence on January 24, 2006, and run until January 24, 2011. USDA encourages eligible minorities, women, and persons with disabilities to apply for membership on the NOSB.
Milk in the Upper Midwest Marketing Area; Tentative Partial Decision on Proposed Amendments and Opportunity To File Written Exceptions to Tentative Marketing Agreement and Order
This tentative partial decision adopts, on an interim final and emergency basis, proposals that would amend certain features of the pooling standards and transportation credit provisions of the Upper Midwest (UMW) milk marketing order. A separate decision will be issued at a later time that will address proposals concerning the depooling and repooling of milk, temporary loss of Grade A status, and increasing the maximum administrative assessment. This decision requires determining if producers approve the issuance of the amended order on an interim basis.
Milk in the Pacific Northwest and Arizona-Las Vegas Marketing Areas; Recommended Decision and Opportunity To File Written Exceptions on Proposed Amendments To Tentative Marketing Agreements and Orders
This document recommends that the producer-handler definitions of the Pacific Northwest and the Arizona-Las Vegas milk marketing orders be amended to limit producer-handler status to those entities with route disposition of fluid milk products of less than three million pounds per month.
Milk in the Northeast Marketing Area; Order Amending the Order
This final rule amends regulations pertaining to the Northeast Federal milk order. More than the required number of producers for the Northeast marketing area approved the issuance of the final order amendments.
Milk in the Pacific Northwest Marketing Area: Order Amending the Order
This document adopts as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule concerning pooling provisions of the Pacific Northwest Federal milk order. More than the required number of producers for the Pacific Northwest marketing area approved the issuance of the final order amendments.
Milk in the Northeast and Other Marketing Areas; Notice of Hearing on Proposed Amendments to Tentative Marketing Agreements and Orders
A national public hearing is being held to consider proposals seeking to amend the Class I fluid milk product definition of all Federal milk marketing orders.
Quality Systems Verification Programs
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to establish a separate user-fee schedule for the Quality Systems Verification Programs (QSVP) and expand the scope of the QSVP to include all agricultural products and services within the responsibility of the Livestock and Seed (LS) Program. A new Part 62 would be established for QSVP services. QVSP are a collection of voluntary, audit-based, user-fee programs authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. QSVP facilitate the global marketing and trade of agricultural products; provide consumers the opportunity to distinguish specific characteristics involved in the production and processing of agricultural products; and ensure that product consistently meets program requirements.
Irish Potatoes Grown in Washington; Increased Assessment Rate
This rule would increase the assessment rate established for the State of Washington Potato Committee (Committee) for the 2005-2006 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.002 to $0.0035 per hundredweight of potatoes handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Washington. Authorization to assess potato handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal period begins July 1 and ends June 30. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
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